Vidal's statistics
From Mr Gore Vidal Sir: I was delighted to read Francis Wynd- ham's appreciation of Dawn Powell's novels (Books, 15 April). Better late than never, as Dean Swift used to say. But I was astonished to read that in my 1987 attempt to revive interest in Powell's novels (I reviewed them all) I 'confined my admiration' to `the seven "New York" satires on which her reputation used to rest'. It would appear that my piece from the New York eview of Books has been read and then forgotten by Mr Wyndham; yet it lingers on in his subconscious, produc- ing some interesting paraphrases of what I wrote. This is all the upside of senility and I bear no grudge. But to say, falsely, that I had 'dismissed as routine examples of provincial realism . . . the totally forgotten "Ohio" group of novels,' is nonsense. After 1987, her books came triumphantly back into print. I had particularly praised Dance Night and My Home is Far Away. I also recommended The Story of a Country Ikry in which a character like Ohio's handsome, genial president War- ren G. Harding is. . . . But my essay can be read, unabridged by an inexact memory, in United States (Abacus). Meanwhile, a quote from The Story of a Country Boy. A drunken US senator is holding forth: '"Tell them I died for Graustark," said the Senator in a faraway voice. He sombrely cracked peanuts and ate them, lightly casting the shells aside with infinite grace. "What wondrous life is this I lead. Ripe apples drop about my head." 'Francis! Duda!
Gore Vidal
c/o 24 St Lukes Mews, London W11
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